Our View: Colchester project deserves a Yes vote

Saturday

Sep 28, 2013 at 12:01 AMSep 28, 2013 at 12:13 PM

It’s an expensive proposition, but one worth supporting.

On Tuesday, Colchester voters will go the polls to vote on a $57 million building project to make needed school repairs and construct a new senior center and community center.
It’s an expensive proposition, but one worth supporting. We urge residents to vote Yes.
The building committee did an excellent job of investigating, vetting and developing the plan that is being offered. The committee’s determination to move forward today, and take advantage of the economies of scale that can be realized by combining these individual projects into one, is a financially prudent course of action.
Approving the plan now will enable town officials to meet a Nov. 30 deadline to file for state financial assistance of up to $18 million to help offset the project’s impact on taxes.
The alternative is to address the school and senior center projects individually next year, and eliminate -- at least for the time being -- the community center portion. That would likely result in higher costs for the school repairs and senior center proposal individually, and possibly less state assistance overall.
That approach would be cheaper than today’s $57 million price tag, but penny-wise and pound foolish in the long run.
The repairs to the William J. Johnston Middle School cannot be ignored any longer, nor can the community ignore the needs of seniors. Voting No Tuesday does not change those facts -- it only delays what needs to be done.
Granted a community center is not a necessity at this time. As opponents have rightfully noted, the schools are available for the many groups and organizations that would use and benefit from a new facility.
But there is a certain synergy that can be captured in adding a community center to what are the necessities -- school repairs and new senior center -- that will have to be done anyway, adding to the overall enhancement to the town’s quality of life for all residents.
A Yes vote Tuesday is a good investment in the community.
That’s our opinion. We’d like to hear yours. Email us your thoughts at letters@norwichbulletin.com